Priestley

by Judith Cook

An excellent study of J.B. Priestley, widely regarded as one of the best of the biographies published over the years, and Judith Cook had access to numerous previously unseen letters and documents which enabled her to say a little more about the author's private life.

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Judith Cook was a lecturer in theatre at the University of Exeter. She wrote several mysteries based on the casebooks of Dr Simon Forman, an Elizabethan doctor and astrologer.

Reviews

[Brian Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A workaday narrative of Priestley's life by a journalist, which for someone who knew very little about his life or most of his work (other than "English Journey", "An Inspector Calls", his wartime "Postcripts" & the odd essay or two) this made a reasonable introduction.

Cook had little to say about each of his works, other than when he produced them, a brief outline of the plot/contents & a little idea of how they were received at the time. However, this is maybe preferable to some writers of biography who write poor criticism of their subject's works, often at great length.

There were some irritating examples of bad proof reading, some occasions when speaking of a "he" or a "she" & it was not very clear to which he or she Cook was referring, & one or two occasions when inaccuracies made me wonder how reliable other facts were e.g. when comparing Priestley's sense of place to that of Dorothy Sayers, she spoke of Sayer's East Anglia & CAMBRIDGE?

But, all-in-all an enjoyable, informative quick read.

[Salli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's a traditional biography in date order as you might say. I don't have any specific knowledge on Mr Priestley to be able to comment on the book's accuracy or attitudes or portrayal, though it seemed to stack up against the little prior reading I had done. It was readable though not engrossing. Personally I fell slightly out of regard for Priestley as the story unfolded. I though the last few years of his life were rather skated over but the last few years seemed to be less fertile than his early years. Solid is how it felt.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the insight into "Jacks" life.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent biography of dear old JBP.